In Lviv, Dzherelo Centre, in partnership with the East Europe Foundation and with financial support from the Embassy of Switzerland, is launching a project aimed at preventing domestic violence and ensuring access to services for people with limited mobility—namely, persons with disabilities and the elderly. The project includes the renovation of a shelter for survivors of violence, a series of educational events in schools and healthcare facilities, and a large-scale information campaign to raise awareness about violence—how to recognize it and how to respond.
The social shelter for survivors of domestic violence operated by Dzherelo Centre is the only municipal facility in Lviv where victims of violence—most often women and women with children—can receive temporary accommodation and professional support. Currently, the shelter is completely inaccessible for individuals with limited mobility. Given the growing number of reported cases of various forms of violence—and the increasing trend of elderly individuals and persons with disabilities becoming victims—ensuring service accessibility for these groups is critically important.
“We are seeing more and more cases where the victims are women with congenital or war-acquired disabilities who use wheelchairs. There’s also often a need to assist elderly survivors or survivors with small children, who also belong to the low-mobility group. Unfortunately, the shelter and crisis rooms are completely inaccessible to them, and we cannot provide services to people with limited mobility who have experienced domestic or gender-based violence.
Victims often cannot relocate away from their abusers, which complicates their recovery process, and staying in the same space as the abuser endangers their physical and mental health—especially if they cannot leave the premises without assistance,” explained Tetiana Fedorchak, Head of the Dzherelo Centre’s Branch for Prevention and Response to Domestic and Gender-Based Violence.
According to her, part of the project includes installing a lifting platform, upgrading the water supply and sewage systems, creating barrier-free kitchens, restrooms, and living areas, as well as replacing the front doors. These improvements will allow specialists to support survivors in a safe and protected environment, provide temporary secure housing, and ensure access to services for protection and rehabilitation..
Tetiana Fedorchak emphasized that prevention and early detection of domestic violence are crucial. Responsibility for the escalation of violence often falls on bystanders—relatives, neighbors, friends—who, noticing signs of violence, tend to downplay the seriousness of the situation or dismiss it as a joke or minor issue. This is largely due to the public’s low level of awareness about domestic violence, which necessitates thorough educational work.
“Through training and an information campaign implemented as part of the project, our community will be better equipped to identify and prevent violence. This will help reduce the number of violence cases and improve the lives of survivors. The information campaign will also contribute to fostering a culture of zero tolerance for violence in society, which is a key step in addressing the problem,” she added.
Along with renovating the shelter, the project also includes developing an educational program on how to recognize signs of domestic and gender-based violence and methods for preventing it. Trainings will be conducted in educational institutions throughout the city to raise awareness among various population groups.
The project, “Prevention and Accessibility of Gender-Based Violence Response Services for Low-Mobility Groups in the Lviv Municipal Territorial Community”, is being implemented by Dzherelo Centre within the “Capable and Resilient” program carried out by the East Europe Foundation with Swiss support. The project’s total cost is €30,000. It’s worth noting that Dzherelo Centre has also purchased a specially equipped vehicle with a lift to support the mobile team working on domestic violence response. The vehicle was procured through a government subsidy won in a competitive tender, and it will significantly strengthen the team’s ability to respond to crises and combat domestic violence.
Background
The Branch for Prevention and Response to Domestic Violence at Dzherelo Centre in Lviv offers comprehensive support to victims of domestic and gender-based violence. The branch includes a mobile team, a social shelter, and crisis rooms for survivors. Dzherelo is the only municipal institution in Lviv that provides a full cycle of services for individuals who have experienced violence.
Due to the war in Ukraine, many people have lost loved ones and homes and have been forced to move to safer cities. Many of them have settled in the Lviv community. As a result, specialists have recorded a significant increase in reports of domestic and gender-based violence. In 2024 alone, Dzherelo’s mobile team handled over 3,500 reports of domestic violence.
If you are experiencing or witnessing domestic violence, please contact the mobile team’s hotline in Lviv: 0 800 307 305.
